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www! AU 93 U #TMG XR 345,782

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. A. SAWYER.

RUBBER STEP 0R CARPET. No. 348,782. Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I'. A. SAWYBR.

RUBBER STEP 0B. CARPET.

No. 348,782. Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

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f be a resilient surface.

U NIT no STATES PATENT (burnin),

RUBBER STEP OR CARPET.

l-FClfPl'I-'A'll'ON forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,782, datedSeptember 7. 18936Y To all whom it may concern.-

Ie it known that l, hamers A. SAwvun, of loston, in the county ol'Hull'oik and State of' Massachusetts, a citizen of the llnitei lvStates, have invented anew and nscf'ul Improvement in .ltnbber Steps orCarpets, of' which the fol lowing;l isa full, clear, and exactdescription, reference bei ng had to the accompanyine,- drawings,f'orining'a part of' this sliecification, in explaining' its nature.

It is desirable in rubber steps, carpets7 and other like articles iliadeof' rubber, adapted for use upon slcps, either stationary or ofvehicles, or f'or use upon iloors, that the treading or upper surfaceol1 said step or carpet should be so made as to lie flatly upon thcsurface to which it is secured, and so remain unaffected by theinfluences ol' the weather. It is also desirable that the step or carpetbe provided with means whereby it may be firmly fastened in place andheld so fastened. lt is also essential that these elements be combinedin the step or carpet in a cheap and du rablc form. The wearilig-surfaceof the step or carpet must For resi liency it is neccssary to use a fairgrade ot" rubber stock, and

consequently it is desirable to use as little of this stock in themanufacture of the step or carpet as possible; consequently this bettergrade of stock is used for'the upper surface of the step or carpet; andl have ascertained that by forming this upper surface with projcctions,preferably in the form of short isolated knobs arranged closel ytogether, the stoel; is best disposed to resist wear, and vat the sainetime provides the best forni of wearing-surlacc and requires the leastamount of the best grade ol' stock. V

To give the steps stability, I use below the surfacing above described alayer of canvas, duck, gunnycloth, or other suitable fibrous material,and to the under surface of this scction there is secured a lowersection of cheap rubber stock, or stock containing a considerableainount of liber, which may be continuous in thickness or may bepancled, as hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of acarstep having the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectionof the ste a. Fie. Il is a ciosssection of the ste i,

Serial No, isfll?` (No modil'i representingl a modification and asapplied to a car-step. Fig. A't is a cross-section illustratingl anotherinmlifiiiiution. Fig. 5 is a view inverted of' the step shown in VFile'.l. Fig. (i illustrates in plan a matm'ial used in the man uf'acture of'the step. Fig. 7 is a vertical sec tion of a step having said materialemployed or used in its construction.

rlhe continuous upper surface, a, ol` the step is made up of' a verythin layer or film of rub ber stock of goed quality, from which rise theprojections, knobs, or protuberances a',ofstock ol' similar quality.rlhesc protnberances forni the wearing-surface ol' the tread or carpet.I) is the layer ol' canvas, duck, gunny-cloth, or other fibrousmaterial, upon which the upper surface is vulcanized and united bypressure. To the under surface of this fibrous section is secured bypressure and vulcanization the base or lower section7 c, which is ofrubber stock containing considerable fiber and lunch less resilient andless expensive than the surfacing ol' the tread or carpet. It may beofuniforln thickness throughout; but for most uses it will be desirableto provide itwith pau cls c', as by so doing a saving in stock isobtained and the resiliency ol" thc mat or carpet increased. V\Vhen usedfor a carstep or any other exposed step, it will be desirable to formupon its under surface, slightly removed from the edge, a V-shapcd orrounded rib or projection, d, which is adapted lio enter a V- shaped orrounded recess, d', of corresponding,` size in the step-support, and actas a joint in preventing water, dirt, &c., from getting under the step,

It will be seen that asi-,ep or carpet niadcin this way has all itsparts arranged to do special service and at the same time provide acheap or economical construction. The principal surfacing of good stockarranged in the form of projections provides the best form ofWcaringsurface. The canvas, duck, or other fibrous material immediatelybeneath it gives the step strength and provides means whereby it can befastened iirmly in place. The lower section. of" cheap vnlcanizablcstock gives sufficient thickness to the step and adds to its stabilityand protects the intermediate canvas section from moisture and otherdestroyiug influences. The intermeifliate fibrous luerton muy hure :Ll'rietionsiii-lilou, or it muy be ol' eouruely or loosely wovennutterinl, in whiell (time the rubber will be by I'il'essure thoroughlyineorporutinl with its tllrezut' :tnd liber.

'lhe step or enrprt muy be lin-med or slumped in molder or b y rolling'.

lt will be seen tluit by providing the slop with the poneis e not onlyis lessi stoel: employed, but the resiliency ol' the Step is iuereusrul,ou the wem-ing,r proieetions :tre `not then supported by u continuoussupport, so tlurt :1 yielding (-fl'eet is obtained, not only duo to theresiliency ol' the proieetions, but :deo to the construction ol' theSiep.

Hoving thus inlly described my invention, l l eluim und desire to secureby Leiters lutent of the United States@ 1. ln rubber Steps, carpets, mulother like rubber goods, the combination of a Surliieing 0i' resilientstock arranged in the form of n thin film or body und projections, usdescribed, nn intermediate fibrous section from which seid projectionsextend, und covered between the projections by the thin iilm orsurfacing of rubber, und the lower or bese section of rubber or fibrousrubber stock, all substantially es described.

2. AS :tu improved :rrtiele ol' unnnll'ueture, the rubber Step or .utepuniteriul, rurpetine', or other like rubber goods, eomprisingg thesurfacing ol' resilient rubber Stor-,k urrenged in the form ol'projeetions, the intermediair librouS seetion roni which the proieetionsextend, :uni covered between the proieetions with :1. thin lilm orSurl'zieing ol' rubber, und the buse or lower ls'eetion ol' vulezmimbiefibrous Stoet", ull united by vulennizfition :md pressure, Substuntiullyas described.

rial, or carpeting, ol` nurfzieing ol' resilient rubber Stock ori-:urgedin the l'orln ol" proiee tions, the fibrous eentrul or intermediatesection, and u. lower section ol' vuleunif/.uble fibrous stoel; havingponeis in its under sur I'uee, all Substantially es described.

ll. The step or step materiel having a resit ient upper surface und udownwmdquojeeting narrow V-Shaped rib upon the under Snrfuee, near theouter edge thereof, substantially as described.

FRANCIS A... SA\V YER.

\VituesseS:

F. F. RAYMoND, 2d, FRED. B. DoLAN.

o. rlhe combination, in :L Step, step mnleH

